Reign The Earth had a lot of fantastic stuff going down, like elemental magic, sneaky uprisings, and sibling relationships!

What it didn’t have going for it was me ultimate love…ahem. But it was still a solidly good book! (If not really YA?!) And the author’s note said she’d been writing and rewriting this book for about 15 years, which is downright amazing. Never give up, okay, writers?! Someday YOU TOO could have your dream published and have me reviewing it and holding it with my terrifyingly disjointed them.

(I don’t know what’s going on with my hands either.)

LET’S MOVE FORWARD.

+ My very very biggest point is: It feels like an adult book.I personally feel like the heart of YA is about teens discovering themselves and the world, learning to be independent, “coming of age” and still being a messy kid. Plus acne and all that fun stuff. Whereas, Reign The Earth’s main plot points are (a) abusive marriages, (b) pregnancy, (c) politics, and (d) really bad fish???? I’m not saying teens don’t get married/have babies, but the book’s slow methodical style plus just the content felt…not YA. This isn’t so much a “fault” of the book either! I’m just pointing it out and feeling disgruntled because I don’t wanna read about adults adulting.

+ The setting was a delicious treat of magic, deserts, and slightly mysterious lakes. The attention to detail for the world was marvellous, and I felt really immersed in the made-up cultures. I definitely feel like there are Persian influences with Shalia being from a desert clan. And it incorporated world building through food and dress too?! #nice Rich and dynamic!

+ There’s plenty of elemental magic to knock your socks off. The book begins with Shalia being about as magical as a frypan. But THEN, surprise (!) she discovers her gift is to control the earth. This could be a spoiler, but also: THE TITLE SAYS IT SO I’M GUILTLESS HERE. Then Shalia goes off to an arranged marriage for peace between her people and his, and her husband-will-totally-kill-her-if-he-finds-she-is-magical. So that’s nice. Supportive. Anyway Shalia is a Soft Cinnamon™ and her power is strongest when she loves something. So if I had it and you left me in a cakery…wow. The earth would basically be mine.

+ So it is dark, because of afore mentioned adult themes. Although not as dark as I expected?? No!! Shh!! I’m normal and there’s nothing to worry about here!! Anyway it (heavily) features the abusive relationship of Shalia and Calix. Basically he’s an alpha male king and horrible. He is the villain though. There’s also a bit o’ torture, death, murder, limbs being blown off, rape in marriage, etc. etc. It’s not a sugary story. I think everything was handled really well and nothing was graphic, but it was all uncomfortable and unfun. (Obviously! It was meant to be!)

+ The characters were complex and interesting!Calix = a horrific tOADSTOOL and I hated him so muchShalia = soft and pure but spent the whole book being a damsel so that was tiringGalen = look I read a book with a mermaid named Galen in it and I couldn’t get rid of that image BUT THAT ASIDE he was a great (also Calix’s brother and he’s nice to Shalia so you just knooooow where the real romance is starting)Zeph = some random guard who was also freaking hilariousKai = sneaky brother of Shalia and I like!2 billion other characters = I DON’T EVEN KNOW. I’M NOT GOOD WITH SO MANY PEOPLE

+ It was very slow though and…honestly? I wasn’t invested.Marriage…can’t relate, my man. This is just a me thing and I know many have adored it as is! But I just couldn’t connect to the characters (Shalia was very passive, but not WEAK. She just didn’t direct her story and it took her till like 70% in to start having a voice. So A+ character development. But I’m tired??) And it was SO FREAKING SEXIST…and I just don’t understand why fantasy worlds can be chill with magical elemental powers but not equality. And so many scenes were just getting dressed for dinner and I just…#napping.

Reign The Earth is full of epic earthy explosions and magic and mayhem, and it unpacks poisonous relationships and oppression. Lots of powerful things going down here! I just have the attention span of a refried gnat, so it was too slowly paced for me.

THANK YOU TO BLOOMSBURY FOR THE ARC. Reign The Earth by A.C. Gaughen was published January 2018.

★★★☆☆

Shalia is a proud daughter of the desert, but after years of devastating war with the adjoining kingdom, her people are desperate for peace. Willing to trade her freedom to ensure the safety of her family, Shalia becomes Queen of the Bonelands. But she soon learns that her husband, Calix, is motivated only by his desire to exterminate the Elementae—mystical people who can control earth, wind, air, and fire. Even more unsettling are Shalia’s feelings for her husband’s brother, which unleash a power over the earth she never knew she possessed—a power that could get her killed. As rumors of a rebellion against Calix spread, Shalia must choose between the last chance for peace and her own future as an Elementae. This intense, richly drawn high-fantasy by the author of Scarletwill hold readers spellbound.

have you ever read a book and thought it was pitched in the wrong age category?! and do you like fantasies with non-Western settings?? what do you think of Reign the Earth and is it on your TBR?!

Today’s mini reviews are a lovely mix of fluffy meet cutes and murder.

Because this is obviously a logical combination and if you’re surprised then you must be new here. (Welcome.) As is known amongst the hordes, I read a lot and very fast and receive a lot of surprise books in the mail! SO! I’m wrapping a few YA contemporaries into this post all together! I’ll also link to the longer reviews on Goodreads if you want more details, my fiends.

Also, while we’re discussing me (fun!), did you know I have a tumblr?I put even MORE reviews over there so go follow me if you’re not hopelessly sick of me yet. Because I am actually everywhere. It’s great.

Thanks to Hot Key Books, Allen & Unwin and Bloomsbury for the ARCs!

LOVE HATE & OTHER FILTERS BY SAMIRA AHMED

This story was a 50/50 split between fluffy romance and a very personal look at racism and hate crimes. I think it’s a great balance because tackles some heavy topics, plus it’s an #ownvoices author and I think it’s amazing and needed! I didn’t love the romance, but I’m also an unfeeling bucket. SO.

It’s very focused on film!And Maya wants to be a documenter which is awesome and GO HER. But awkward pause for me because I don’t like movies…hence I read so much.

Maya was complex and interesting, but I also struggled with how she treated her parents. They were very over-protective and stifling, but she was often super rude with…like no reason?

There’s much Indian culture! I love how the writing utilised the 5-senes to make the scenes really pop off the page. THE FOOD WAS SO GOOD I WANTED TO EAT MY ARC.

Maya really never talks about being Muslim though!? Which is fine, like that wasn’t her life focus I guess, but the book’s pitched as being about a Muslim teen! And the only time she thinks of it is when a-soon-to-be-ex-prospective-boyfriend drinks wine and she’s like “N O P E.” Otherwise it never comes up.

The romance had me fleeing.It’s extremely just about Maya figuring out which boy she likes. Bit of a love tirangle. I actually have no idea what she and Phil had in common but tHEY WERE IN LURVE. Or something. It honestly felt shallow.

It was short and sweet!Like a cupcake.

And it had good discussions about hate crimes. Particularly the ripple affect and how it can affect people’s lives who aren’t even anywhere near where the crime took place. Maya really struggles with it and it’s super improtant to read about.

36 QUESTIONS THAT CHANGED MY MIND ABOUT YOU BY VICKI GRANT

This was really predictable but super cute!It’s a running theme around here but I’m noooot great at FLUFF romances. But go for this if you want something cute and fast and fun that involves a little bit of fish and anxiety.

It’s about 2 teens who take a study to see if they can develop a friendship after 36 questions. Or fall in love. Haha, BET YOU CAN’T GUESS. I did end up shipping them and found it quite a page turner.

Hildy was either super irritating or very endearing. Usually both.

Paul was an unfortunate ass. Of course he has a backstory, but this is Snape all over again. There is no excuse in the world not to be polite and honestly his short, snipy answers ticked me off. If I was Hildy, I would’ve belted him with my handbag. We also get to know him about 13% so that’s annoying.

Most of it is written in texting or screenplay format.I found it really fast and easy to read and like breeeeezed through.

The cover is cute. Kind of like when a rainbow throws up.

There were several problematic quips about the lgbtqia community. Seemed totally unnecessary. Hildy’s BFF was a token gay stereotype and Hildy started saying “maybe I’m asexual” because her romances weren’t working out?!?? (Also being asexual does NOT MEAN you can’t have a relationship what even.)

And it was…super predictable.So a fun story but how can we not know what’s going to happen. Come now.

GANGSTA RAP BY BENJAMIN ZEPHANIAH

It felt like a messily told story with super simplistic writing…like the plot had some great things and messages going down, but the writing had me feeling like a damp marshmallow.

It’s about 3 boys who start a rap band. And then they…immediately top the charts and become super famous. After one song. Of course.

Unfortunately the boys were horrible. They even get picked up by the cops at one stage for full on harassing girls!?!? And I’m supposed to root for these guys? They DO NOT apologise or change. And while I think that it’s great their school found a way to make learning work for them (desk work is not for everyone!!) I feel like they were disgustingly rude and disrespectful the whole time.

Sexism is dancing in the streets. They all refer to their girlfriends as property, not to mention the protagonist has MASSIVE instalove and tells his girlfriend they’ll get married in a year. It’s 15, by the way. FIFTEEN.

It was great learning more about rap and the culture behind it. There’s a lot of #BlackLivesMatter discussions and most of the cast is POC and it covers gang and street violence and the difference between being rebellious and starting a revolution.

But I just couldn’t with the writing. It was basic at best, messy at worst, and totally flat. Miiight be just me not clicking with it, but I’m signing out rapidly.

RAIN FALL BY ELLA WEST

This book is a little like sitting in a bucket of water. Mostly because all it does is rain while dead bodies appear everywhere. Lovely! It was really nice reading about New Zealand and could feel mushrooms growing out of my cold dark soul. But I found the story uninspiring and the writing a bit flat.

Annie was a chronic liar for no reason!? I’ve met toasters with more communication skills. She lies about her secret boyfriend (why) and she assumes he has a girlfriend but never asks (why) so assumes he’s cheating with her but never clarifies (whyyyy) and then lies to her friends about everything (WHY). It’s fine if she was standoffish and introverted, but she had no solid motives for anything?!?

Everyone’s motivations were a bit soggy. Like the only reason Annie is invested in helping her maybe-murderer neighbour is…he’s her neighbour. However I’d trade my neighbour for a grape so maybe I should not talk.

It focused on a lot of things that didn’t click with me. Lots of talks about horses and rodeos and the New Zealand mining industry.

Wasn’t in love with the writing. I just didn’t connect with it, or Annie, at all. And even though there were plenty of murders it didn’t seem dangerous or anything. But hey it rained while I was reading it so A+ on aesthetic marks for me.

have you read any contemporaries this year?! what are your thoughts? and are any of these on your TBR pile?!

Nothing like a little prison break to get the kids excited for reading.

I thought Prisoner Of Ice And Snow was an altogether rather adorable middle-grade novel, if a bit slow, and 12-year-old me would’ve been so into this. Because 12-year-old me was all about prisons and death and doing archery in the backyard with siblings as moving targets. HAHHAH JUST KIDDING FOR THAT LAST BIT. They were stationary targets. *

It basically has (a) a Russian fantasy-esque setting, (b) epic sisters fighting to save each other, and (c) PRISON BREAKS OF DOOM.

Also shout out to me who took a confused moment to realise this is not the same as Prisoner of Night and Fog. 10/10 recommend we figure out better prisons because these chaps keep getting out.

* JOKING. I still have all 5 siblings alive. I swear. We don’t talk about the 6th…

Since I’m a mainly YA blog…it’s worth noting this is a middle-grade novel. Just so you go in with the right expectations. Admittedly MG is not my favourite to read. I GOT OLD, OK. Although I do still adore Lemony Snicket and Rick Riordan, but unless MG is hilarious…I get kind of bored.

Um, so…this is not hilarious. A carton of frozen faberge eggs would probably crack more jokes. <– CRACK??? GET IT??? Omg someone please show me out. I get that we have the high stakes of prisons and certain terminal doom, but some humour would’ve saved saved the bacon. (OK wow this whole section sounds like a breakfast menu, let’s move on.)

I really loved the Russian-esque fantasy setting though! I’m a complete sucker for anything that sings remotely of Russia, as is where my favourite Grisha books hail from. It reminded me of The Wolf Wilder except in that book they saved the wolves, whereas in Prisoner of Ice And Snow, they shot them because they tried to eat the prince. Odd why they kept wanting to save him. The prince seemed a bit of a dehydrated carrot to me, but let’s go with this. The setting was great and full of ice…and SNOW. BET you didn’t know that was coming. I definitely felt the chills and icy hollers.

The characters also didn’t really excite me, but they were TOUGH LITTLE COOKIES! Frozen cookies? They were really not doing well keeping warm is all I’m saying. I did admire them, especially how Valour put together a whole PLAN to get her sister out of jail. I am a little old and gnarly though, so perhaps it was just that hte book was too lowkey for me personally. But Valour’s personality was: Bravery and Honour™ which is about as dull as it sounds. And Sasha was Sweet And Pure™. She didn’t actually have a whole lot of active page time, so I’m guessing this from the way Valour referred to her. I just am generally excited about these types of personalities, and the trope of Pure and Perfect Child Is Locked Up For Evil She Didn’t Commit™. I would rather read about evil. Like Sauron’s childhood? Let’s get a book on that. Anyway. I do think they were admirable, brave, and valiant little frozen peas.And I rooted for them to get out and be clever!

They also totally had this whole Anna/Elsa thing going on. So basically this book IS Frozen. Literally and figuratively. Which was super awesome because JUDGE ME FOR BEING A CLICHE but I freaking love that movie. I often tell my family I’m going to just let it go and then blast myself a new castle on a hill and tell them never never to visit. Elsa needed some introvert time, OK. Stop visiting her.

Unfortunately life in prison is kind of boring. Who knew. I enjoyed Valour’s cleverness and the unfurling of her escape plans. But the scenes of her doing work detail in the kitchens was less than riveting. I think the book could’ve been a teeny tiny bit faster paced.

But I am still ENDLESSLY PLEASED to see little 13-year-old heroines being epic with lock picks and valiant loves for their sisters. Because frankly that’s what I wanted to be at 13 too. Except for the “go to the ends of the world to save your sister” part because I have 4 sisters and if one goes down, well, fine. There are others. I honestly do love books about cleverness, prison breaks, evil conspiracies, and a bit of frozen bread for dinner. This is how we need to raise the future generation! Locks cannot hold us! Ice cannot keep ups! Kill all the princes! Sisters will be saved and mysteries solved! And shout out to books for remembering you can have adventures without romance. Wow, MG, you’re doing great.

THANKS TO BLOOMSBURY FOR THE REVIEW-COPY! Prison of Ice and Snow by Ruth Lauren is published October 2017!

★★★☆☆

Valor is under arrest for the attempted murder of the crown prince. Her parents are outcasts from the royal court, her sister is banished for theft of a national treasure, and now Valor has been sentenced to life imprisonment at Demidova, a prison built from stone and ice. But that’s exactly where she wants to be. For her sister was sent there too, and Valor embarks on an epic plan to break her out from the inside. No one has escaped from Demidova in over three hundred years, and if Valor is to succeed she will need all of her strength, courage and love. If the plan fails, she faces a chilling fate worse than any prison … An unforgettable story of sisterhood, valour and rebellion, Prisoner of Ice and Snow will fire you up and melt your heart all at once. Perfect for fans of Katherine Rundell, Piers Torday and Cathryn Constable.

how do you feel about prison break stories??? how would YOU do breaking out of a prison? do you read much MG? and have you heard of Prison of Ice and Snow? read it? THOUGHTS???

‘Tis the season of mini reviews!

Actually tis the season for salt, so I’m squashing my salty reviews together to save irritating rants. But as a permanently continual reminder — my reviews aren’t tell you what to do…they’re just to introduce a book and if it piques your interest, GO FOR IT. I also flail like a wild mushroom over one of these books so, exciting.

Thanks to Hot Keys, Allen and Unwin, Bloomsbury, and Netgalley for the review-copies!

Also RANDOM but Society6 is having 25% off which is kind of freaking amazing!??! I have tons of designs up including writerly ones so you should 100% pre-reward yourself since NaNoWriMo is in 36 days.

Mug in the above photo is one of my designs!

OKAY I’M DONE. ONTO REVIEWS.

MY NAME IS VICTORIA BY LUCY WORSLEY

Despite being about cool alternate-histories and queens this really…didn’t work for me. I don’t mesh with period-dramas. I just dooooon’t. And when a book stars a self-confessed BORING and PLAIN and AVERAGE girl then when am I supposed to care?! I have more emotions about cereal. Because I can eat it.

It basically follows the story of eleven-year-old princess Victoria who gets a playmate, Miss V.Miss V has the personality of a spoon and literally nothing happens in this book except talking, tea, a few carriage rides, everyone being subtly awful. I’m enthralled. Also over half the book is when Miss V is eleven, although she finishes up at 18, but the tone was really really young.

However the alternate-reality twists were cool! No spoilers, but it was a mind-bending ending. Although I have 0% what was real and what was alternate?!? I assume marrying your cousin was the real part.

Why must humans be like this.

VERDICT: A good book for people who enjoy period dramas with not a lot of drama but very nicely placed grammatical periods.

THE AMATEURS #2: FOLLOW ME BY SARA SHEPHERD

It’s time for some MURDER, JOHN. This is the sequel to The Amateurswhich I read last year and promptly forgot 100% of what it was about. But this has a very satisfying summary on page (THANK THE BOOK HEAVENS) so I could keep up. However I rated the first book 2 stars and this was also…no. I find them too predictable and the stakes weirdly low or maybe I’ve watched too much Sherlock.

I also feel weird when these teens are tracking a suPER BAD MURDERER but they’re also worried about romance and being friendzoned. You know what you’re going to get? GRAVEZONED IF YOU DON’T PAY ATTENTION.

SMOL LIST OF DISGRUNTLED THINGS:

there are so many characters and my brain maxes out at two people and this is why I’ve lost track of my family

there are FIVE NARRATORS in a freaking 270pg book

Madison and Aerin literally have no point to their chapters

two characters are named MADISON and MADDOX and if you think I don’t get freaking confused then you are wrong, sir

why are the police so incompetent in YA mysteries <— the true mystery

where are the parents

why doesn’t anyone eat

the book is 90% tell tell tell and I was so detached due to all these info-dump conversations instead of actually witnessing ACTION.

However I liked getting more of the psychopath’s POV because that was interesting. Yes, shh, I’m a fine and normal person. And I confess I’m VERY interested to know what the psychopath’s endgame is and if these teenagers will die in the next book because no one is very competent. So very hooky.

ROYCE ROLLS BY MARGARET STOHL

I confess I’d rather eat a bucket than watch reality TV so this one didn’t work for me. (Might work for those who love reality TV though?!) And 100% thought the book was called ROLLS ROYCE because I am functional. #GoCait

WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME:

It’s a satire. So, like, yes let’s make fun of reality TV…but I don’t understand satires. If you like reality TV wouldn’t you find this offensive??? And if you hate it WHY ARE YOU READING THE BOOK? (oh wait…me)

Didn’t really care about the characters. They’re also all named after cars. I couldn’t tell anyone apart.

BREAKING BY DANIELLE ROLLINS

This was just too flippant about suicide to be an enjoyable thriller. It’s a companion to Burning, but you can read it as a standalone. And it’s like…a baording school with a dash of SCI FI or PARANORMAL and who knows what else. It’s as surprise for us all.

WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME:

Oh a rich kids prep school? All the girls are going to be HORRIBLE AND HATE EACH OTHER. Obviously.

The main character is so nice and unassuming. She calls herself boring I mean???? I obviously believe her and now am turned off?? WHY DO BOOKS DO THIS.

Probably because she is Elle Fanning. I mean, look at that cover.

The boarding school cliches were in abundance. We gotcha class full of random sociopaths and conspiracy theories and creepy teachers and THAT ONE SINGLE BOY EVERYONE LOVES and suicide for the “shock” and a dark woods were they all go get drunk.

Lots of heavy topics = all glazed over. I am very unhappy with how the suicide theme was handled. Suicide is a huge, scary and complex topic and this is YA for freaking sakes. Please don’t treat it so flippantly and for “shocks”.

Random animal cruelty.

Again, no one eats. Why. I mean the tagline is “what makes this girl a monster” and I’m here like LOW BLOOD SUGAR PROBABLY?????

However I DO approve that it was proud to be feminine! And there was competitive fencing. Like with swords and not, um, fences to keep cows in or whatever. And I think a lot of the reason I was bored is that I’ve read a LOT and this felt overdone to me. I’ll just eat a bark chip here and sulk.

THE THINGS WE PROMISE BY J.C. BURKE

This was super problematic and depressing.I’m genuinely shocked/outraged at the storyline too??

I don’t think it was “unrealistic” but it used a lot of hugely bad tropes and I can’t SEE THE POINT OF THIS BOOK.

WHAT I’M FURIOUS ABOUT

The language is super offensive. It’s set in the ’90s so I get it…but when you even have the protagonist justifying her problematic language because “she likes it and doesn’t see why it’s a problem” THEN YOU HAVE A NO FROM ME. (Ex. derogatory use of words like “schizo” and a sheer ton of slanderous names against lgbtqia+ people.)

I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone on the lgbtqia+ spectrum. Which is ridiculous because it’s ABOUT that minority. It basically kills off, ends badly, or reduces every. single. lgbtqia+ character to a tragedy story. It’s about AIDS and while the deaths might not have been unrealistic, it is completely unnecessary to do this to 100% of a minority in your book. Seriously, if this book was about black people and everyone got shot in police violence, or about depression where every single mentally ill character committed suicide = IT WOULD NOT BE OKAY. It’s harmful and not appropriate.

This is basically a queer tragedy for straight people. The levels of wrong, wow.

Gemma cares about prom. Nothing else. I found it very hard not to stab her with a pincushion.

It was also very slow. Not a lot happened except tragedy for all the minorities.

Now I got bawled out on Goodreads for this review so again: I’m not saying “this stuff doesn’t happen”. I’m saying the way it was WRITTEN was harmful and problematic. I felt so depressed finishing it and I actually cared a lot about some of the secondary characters so I found the book hard to put down. But like??? I wish I’d not picked it up.

THE DEFINITIONS OF INDEFINABLE THINGS BY WHITNEY TAYLOR

I’ve been so so depressing in this post so QUICK LOOK AT THIS BOOK THAT IS ABSOLUTELY UNFATHOMABLY AMAZING!!! This is one of my favourites of the year!!!!It’s about depression and it is like 10/10 accurate and respectful and bitter and funny and beautiful!

I think my heart just E X P L O D E D with good feelings for this book!!

It’s actually a really honestly brutal view of depression.Depression is different for everyone, but this was pretty relatable to me so that was special. It’s pretty gut-punching though because it deals with people who think depression is fake (“just be happier! you’ll feel better!”) and there’s no romanticised picnic here. But it’s also HOPEFUL and this is the kind of book we need, OK?? Also no “love cures all.” #Bless #This #Book

I adored both Snake and Reggie.They’re both bitter and pretentious and funny and sweet with hearts of gold underneath it. They are perfectly flawed???? And I love this??? There is a love triangle but it was so well done and AMAZING and I don’t even know myself anymore.

I totally didn’t expect to love this one so much. Pain. FEELS. Laugh-out-loud wit. It’s a really brittle and sometimes caustic view of depression and sometimes it’s a bit overly philosophical, but it was heckin’ special. I love this book OK go read it.

have you read any of these?!?! share thoughts!! i wish to discuss!! and do you like people on the covers of books??? also are you yay or nay to reality tv?

Oh it’s MINI REVIEW time again!

And this time seems to come around like…a lot. But you know what? I read faster than I blog so we just have to deal with this or I’d be posting reviews from February right now in August. OH WAIT. Haha. I am. (Excuse me I’m sorry. This year has been madness.) However I find mini-reviews are also good when I’m being a particular bucket of sour grapefruit….which will be the case a bit here.

BUT HEY! Just because me (who is a nobody, by the by) didn’t click with some of these books doesn’t mean they won’t suit you! I totally recommend them if they poke your interests! GO FOR IT

Thank you to Bloomsbury and Allen & Unwin for these review-copies!

LIVING ON HOPE STREET BY DEMET DIVAROREN

This is a really multicultural story that’s all about bringing a street of humans together with HOPE. Super sweet. And quite emotional too! However I kind of came unstuck when I realised it was going to have 7+ narrators and it is a tiny book so this made it (a) epically confusing, (b) I never really got to know anyone, and (c) it’s hard to feel invested when there’s SO much going on in SUCH a short amount of time. I am the sad.It’s basically about a street of families, all from different backgrounds.I did feel most invested in Kane’s family since they start off the book and their story is SO SAD. Their father is abusive and Kane is super angry and wants to kill his dad. He’s protective of his little brother and their relationship is super sweet. I also thought it did a good job showing the traumatic after-affects of domestic violence. So brutal and painful to read.

However I struggled to care about anyone else. They had FAR less page time too. Gugu was from an African-immigrant family and I would’ve looooved to know more about her, but we barely get any details? Every time it was the cranky racist veteran’s chapters I just wanted to eat a piece of brick. I don’t even get the POINT of some of the other characters when their stories barely tied in. TOO MUCH. NOT ENOUGH SPACE.

But A+ for all the diversity and I felt it was really respectfully and wonderfull done!

THIS SIDE OF HOME BY RENÉE WATSON

This is a pretty important book that tackles topics like racism, finding your voice, and why ice cream is better than frozen yogurt.All good points. All need to be said. It’s #ownvoices too! And I appreciated how it really delved deep into a lot of micro-aggression that African Americans face every day, plus it unpacked a lot of problematic things some white people whine about: like why Black History Month is important and why saying “I don’t see colour” is problematic, which are important discussions to have.Unfortunately I found the actually writing style didn’t work for me.Bit unemotional? Bit bland? I’ve been spoiled by other contemporaries like ones by Angie Thomas and Dhonielle Clayton and Tiffany D. Jackson where the writing style reeeeally resonated with me. So just a personal writing style thing here.

It’s basically about Maya and her identical twin Nikkifinishing off highschool and looking to college and realising growing up sucks. Lots of coming-of-age angst. Lots of twins-not-being-super-close-anymore. Also they get a passive-aggressive principal at their new school and it’s really hard for Maya who wants to fight back but isn’t always sure how. I did chaff at the really slow pace though. The story kind of wandered.

So very important issues and discussions to mull over!Just needed a bit more concrete direction in the plot and sparkle in the writing style. Also I want ice cream.

SPARROW BY SCOT GARDNER

Sparrow had a terrifically strong start that totally hooked me in and then…it kind of drizzled. I am so disappointed because I thought this was going to be a very ME book. It’s about this kid named Sparrow who escapes juvie and swims through this croc/stinger/shark infested waters and then survives in the bush! And it flips back and forth from when Sparrow was 12 and first on the streets, leading up to how he gets throw in juvie.

12 year old Sparrow WAS ADORABLE and broke my heart. I absolutely loved him. He has selective mutism. And like he just drifts around this esplanade, being like semi-adopted by a kind cafe lady and this old gnarly but nice pensioner who teaches him to swim. And he’s avoiding his slightly scary brother. These chapters are A+.

BUT SMOL LIST OF REASONS IT FELL APART FOR ME:

The survival chapters were cool in theory but it was freaking boring reading about Sparrow just walking and walking and gathering food.

My eyes glazed over at the sheer dullness.

I wished the entire book had been about 12 year old baby Sparrow to be honest.

But like I don’t even understand how none of these “kind adults” actually did anything about this CLEARLY HOMELESS MUTE CHILD. It was beyond negligent and unrealistic.

And then the disability rep for his mutism? Well…let’s just say a pretty girl can cure anything.

So I enjoyed it partially…but in the end I had too many “what the even” moments going on. Premise = love. Execution of premise = not so much.

MY LIFE AS A HASHTAG BY GABRIELLE WILLIAMS

Wow I feel like I just got preached at. Duuuude. This is the kind of book that feels like a scared adult is writing about how the internet is “ruining teens’ lives” and having a rant about how horrible teenagers are today. No thanks. (And maybe that’s not the intent! But that’s how it feels!)The message that cyber-bulling is bad is a GOOD MESSAGE. And I did like how it showed how you can cyber-bully on accident and still face the consequences of your actions. But the rest is 100% PREACHING AT YOU on how bad social media is.

MC was also a really really frustrating protagonists. And her, um, name is “MC”…which is also slang for “main character” so that’s weird. But she was selfish, rude, cruel to her friends, and her life was 100% her. I couldn’t care less about her. And what’s the crux of the story? Oh it’s all about girls-who-are-fighting-over-a-boy of course! Girl on girl hate is NEVER a storyline I’m interested in.

LIST OF OTHER DISLIKES:

The blurb spoils the whole book…

When it starts MC’s brother and their mutual friend have a huge falling out that “nobody talks about”. I instantly knew what it was.

So…cliche? Predictable? A bit.

All the girl-on-girl hate.

There are a million characters and I have only one small pea-sized portion of my brain reserved for remembering names.

How am I supposed to feel ANYTHING NICE towards MC who has a tumblr purely so she can bitch about her friends??? Oh and she names them. Online. And never thinks this’ll come back to bite her.

The viral part I found quite unrealistic. The fact is, the world doesn’t CARE about a couple of random girls’ teenage drama. If they’d been celebrities, yes. But they weren’t so…no.

NO FILTER BY ORLAGH COLLINS

Oh look, ANOTHER book that’s terrified of the internet.Mate, I love the internet (HI I’M ON IT RIGHT NOW) so these kind of books tick me off so quickly. Plus I’m tired of these books where a privileged white rich girl gets a spontaneous holiday to another country and SHE WHINES ABOUT IT THE WHOLE TIME. Um, take me then.

But the romance was cute! Except for the part where every time Liam and Emerald disagree they just kiss to get over it. This…isn’t going to work long term, folks. However I did root for them.

LIST OF WHAT WENT WRONG FOR ME:

SUPER SUPER SLOW. Like nothing even happens for the first 150 pages. They eat cereal and cut meat in a deli and whine about their lives.

Emerald spends so much time weeping about her instagram feed.

There were several romance scenes so cringey I started laughing.

This news just in: I may be an unfeeling turnip.

Emerald actually LOVED the IG filters which is confusing and bizarre.

The book had this super preachy tone about if you like social media you are “not living your life”.

All the girl-on-girl hate because GIRLS CAN’T BE FRIENDS.

NOT impressed with the moment Emerald says she probably “OCD” because “seriously, that’s a thing!” when she feels upset from her “internet withdrawal”…like that’s ableist and cruel.

I am SO NOT HERE for putting asterisks in swear words books. It’s annoying. Look if a book can have kind of a hot sexy time then you can swear without literally going “effing f**k” on the actual page.

It fell into the “THIS IS HOW TEENS SPEAK!!” cringe moment with instagram user names being “0o_kittykatz_o0” and “rupertisnotabear2000”. And the captions were like “#tbt GLASTO!!! SIKKK START TO SUMMER WITH MY BAE!!!!”

You have got to be kidding me.

Please. do. not.

PRO TIP: If you are writing for teens, try not to insult them the whole time.

have you read any of these??? any on your radar?? tiiiime to chat! tell me about a book you LOVED the premise of but didn’t end up loving how it was written??

My heart is so full of love for the beautiful story that is The Pearl Thief!!

It’s a prequel to Code Name Verity, which I also absolutely love and remember with dear fondness like one remembers being stabbed in the feels with a rusty spork. EXCELLENT LITERATURE. And when I heard there was going to be a prequel about Julie’s childhood I just about lost my left sock in excitement. I am SO PLEASED!!

Although I do think it needs to be said: but this is literally nothing like Code Name Verity. It is more like awhimsical Scottish frolic and romp in the 1930swhen Julie was 15 and caught up in her family’s estate that includes castles, pearls, and the occasional dead man.

Lovely.

Also no, you don’t have to read CNV to actually love and enjoy this! It works perfectly as a standalone too.

I actually received a copy for review, buuuut, I’d also preordered the audiobook because I listened to the other two books in the series via audio and may I just say THE AUDIO IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. It’s all Scottish accents and the most beautiful narration ever. Soooo much recommend. I think I fell into love with Scotland and can’t get up.

Honestly this is just a really nice book.

For me it was like revisiting an old friend! And it was just so perfect being around Julie Beaufort-Stuart again, particularly since her brother, the dashing and cheerful Jamie, is here too! Jamie is so sweet and basically an adorkable Hufflepuff. Um, yes, I sort all characters into Hogwarts Houses, obviously. What else does one do in their spare time.

And do you know what I’m really impressed with? It’s how delightfully feminist this book is.

Julie is a powerful character. She’s totally flawed and privileged and often doesn’t even know it and makes mistakes because of it…but she wants to learn and be better. PLUS she is all about femininity and being empowered. She doesn’t ask permission — she does things. And I also loved how she was queer but never once saw herself as “broken” because of it, which was so refreshing to read in a historical fiction. Basically I just left this book feeling so HAPPY because Julie was witty and could shoot a gun and wasn’t afraid to get mucky and was terrified of ghosts and LOVED BEING PRETTY and kissed whoever she wanted. And Julie’s surrounded by equally fabulous and powerful female role models, like her mother and grandmother, and they take 0% shenanigans too.

I’m just so in awe.

This book, I tell you. THIS BOOK. Usually I avoid historical fiction because of having to wade through pits of feeling inferior — but nooooot so here. There are sexist characters and the world isn’t sugar-coated into an “ideal land”, but it’s just NICE SEEING WOMEN BE PROUD OF THEMSELVES.

I also loved how the book handled the travellers!

Although it made my heart BREAK at how horribly they were treated. They’re called “tinkers” by the locals, (basically Scottish gypsies) and they’re abused and railed against at every turn and arughugugh it was so unfair. I love how Julie becomes friends with Euan and Ellen.And quite frankly Euan is the SWEETEST and most precious cinnamon scone in the world and anyone who beats him will BE DIRECTLY BEATEN BY ME. And Ellen was a piece of frosty ice and absolutely amazing and I loved her.

ME @ ANYONE WHO LOOKS WRONGLY AT EAUN AND ELLEN.

And I loved how the romance wasn’t cliche and it also was more like discovery and searches between growing up and realising the summer will end.

The plot was definitely a slow one.

But I enjoyed the lazy summery pace. And quite frankly it was the setting I was monstrously in love with!All old castles and manors and beautifully described rivers of pearls. The writing is just SO GOOD that every scene somehow was lush and delicious and I felt like I was there, taking my summer in Scotland.

This news just in: I wish to go to Scotland.

This is DEFINITELY a beautiful book and I can’t flail over it enough!

It didn’t hit me brutally like Code Name Verity did, of course, and it was a completely different pace / feel. But it was just NICE. It’s methodical and lush and full of powerful females and a ton of hilarious moments — coupled with mystery and murder and beautiful old historical items, an EPIC sister/brother duo, diversity, and all the tea you could possibly want.

Also it won my heart, so there’s that.

THANK TO BLOOMSBURY FOR THE REVIEW-COPY! The Pearl Thief (#0.5) by Elizabeth Wein was published July, 2017

★★★★☆

Sixteen-year-old Julie Beaufort-Stuart is returning to her family’s ancestral home in Perthshire for one last summer. It is not an idyllic return to childhood. Her grandfather’s death has forced the sale of the house and estate and this will be a summer of goodbyes. Not least to the McEwen family – Highland travellers who have been part of the landscape for as long as anyone can remember – loved by the family, loathed by the authorities. Tensions are already high when a respected London archivist goes missing, presumed murdered. Suspicion quickly falls on the McEwens but Julie knows not one of them would do such a thing and is determined to prove everyone wrong. And then she notices the family’s treasure trove of pearls is missing.

do you like historical fiction?!? any favourites that have empowered female heroines?? and has a book ever made you desperately want to visit a specific country before? DO TELL. and are you going to read The Pearl Thief?!????

Learning To Swear In America was such a glorious surprise for me!

I went in knowing exactly nothing about it, which did lead to a few mis-expectations — AKA I thought I would really learn to swear in American. I did not. I learn to swear more in Russian to be honest. But it is all verylowkey, so if you are opposed to swearing your little eyeballs won’t struggle. And if you like swearing, go read The Lies of Locke Lamora, my friend. 10/10 there. Ahem excuse me, I’M GETTING OFF TRACK.

This is abouta Russian boy-genius who is saving the world from an incoming asteroid.It’s an absolute bucketful of endearing wit and maths and amazingness. And like, mate, I love everything about this.

So Yuri was an absolute DELIGHT. I loved how he was so so socially awkward and an absolute genius, but also a dork. He thinks he’s “smooth” and then he’s running across the road to give a girl a donut. SO I LOVE HIM. I also adored all the cultural differences that were incorporated into the story — since he’s Russian and thinks the Americans are pretty weird. Truth. Like his boss will say “humour them” and Yuri’s like “ok what jokes shall I tell.” He is sweet, well-meaning, and absolutely PRECIOUS. Plus he’s a math and physicist genius and super smart and LOVE IT.

The notes on Russian culture and language differences taught me a lot! Just like little smidges of information, like differences in what letters/sounds Russia has or how they culturally don’t make eye-contact and say hello to people without good reason. CAN I MOVE TO RUSSIA.

I also couldn’t be more pleased with the level of NERDOM going down. And I’m going to also admit here that: I haven’t the faintest flying clue what they were talking about with all the math. You know who failed math? Me. But I can still appreciate it. It’s really cool to read about books so heavily grounded in math and science. Plus Yuri is going to SAVE THE WORLD WITH HIS MATHS. Smart little cookie. Also no pressure.

The asteroid-parts felt detailed and really well researched.And while the author’s note cautions us to not stop asteroids using Yuri’s math….it is detailed as heck about how they do go ahead trying to have the world from the asteroids hitting.

The secondary characters were amazing and precious. Basically Yuri gets tangled up with the janitor’s daughter on accident and then SHE SAVES HIM and it just becomes this super-cute-fest. Dovie is not skinny(!! so refreshing to read) and she is like a hippy and super sarcastic and witty the whole time. I absolutely adored her! And then her brother, Lennon, features a lot in the story too. He has a snarky commentary going on in the background that is just brilliant. Also Lennon is in a wheelchair, and since I can count on like one hand how many books I’ve read with wheelchair characters….I’m pretty excited about this.

Shout out to the level of HILARITY in here. The quips and banter were gold. I’m so so impressed!!

“These the only boo-boos?” He looked at her, uncomprehending. “Yuri’s Russian,” Dovie said, then explained, “she wants to know where you’re hurt.” “Oh. I have multiple superficial abrasions and a small laceration to forehead and left lateral mouth, with localised swelling. So, compromised skin integrity and risk for infection, but no skeletal issues.”

IT WAS SERIOUSLY TENSE THOUGH. Even though some of the math-chapters had me die on the inside because WUT…I still loved the tension of the incoming asteroid that will kill everyone presently. But the dorky cute chapters with Yuri like experiencing highschool or being with Dovie and Lennon were the best.

I didn’t want to put it down! Except I did because I had to go eat dinner and food is more important than Yuri. #SorryButIHavePrioritiesTho

“I’m weird?”“You’re wearing a suit. That’s definitely not normal.”“You…” He rolled his hand toward her. “Your hair, the reflection around your eyes…I’m weird?”“You’re both weird,” Lennon called in from the living room. “No need to fight over it.”

Okay so did I mention…what the heck was the math? I DON’T KNOW! This isn’t a criticism on the book, I just legit had no idea what they were talking about with the science-y chapters. So I appreciated it but like…what.

Dude, they didn’t really swear. I’m just calling it…False advertise

It was a smudge slow. But this could just be because the maths was like WOAH WHAT ARE YOU SAYING.

I kind of didn’t understand some things at the end!But I’ll put it in spoiler tags for your small possibly-having-not-read-it-yet eyeballs.

SPOILERS!!

I don’t understand why Yuri was so guilty about saving the world because he lied to put his own code in when it was rejected. HE SAVED THE FRIKKIN’ WORLD. I get that he would feel bad about the lies, but I don’t get why he wondered if he should’ve done it???? Yes, okay, Yuri? YES. It was bad that you lied but everyone would be dead otherwise. So his guilt made no sense.

I don’t understand why he wasn’t allowed to want the Nobel prize. Like if you have to choose between your life’s work vs a girl….MATE, I’M SAYING GO FOR THE INCREDIBLY COMPLEX LIFE WORK. I don’t understand Dovie’s pithiness towards that. I shipped them! Of course! I loved Davie, but when she claimed his wanting to win the Nobel prize for his research was just him being egotistical, I thought that completely unfair. #NotAFanOfDovieRightNow

I was absolutely smitten with this book of geniuses, bad pizza, asteroids, world doom, and extremely awkward boys who’s comebacks are so bad they’re good.

So much impress!!! It’s definitely a story that will stay with me and the characters were super awesome. I am HIT (har har, get it?? Because of the asteroid falling??? I’M FUNNY…no it’s not) with a deep appreciation for Learning To Swear In America. And the delightful pockets of humour totally made my day!

THANK YOU TO BLOOMSBURY FOR THE REVIEW-COPY. Learning To Swear In American by Kat Kennedy was published August, 2017.

Brimming with humor and one-of-a-kind characters, this end-of-the world novel will grab hold of Andrew Smith and Rainbow Rowell fans. An asteroid is hurtling toward Earth. A big, bad one. Yuri, a physicist prodigy from Russia, has been called to NASA as they calculate a plan to avoid disaster. He knows how to stop the asteroid: his research in antimatter will probably win him a Nobel prize–if there’s ever another Nobel prize awarded. But Yuri’s 17, and having a hard time making older, stodgy physicists listen to him. Then he meets Dovie, who lives like a normal teenager, oblivious to the impending doom. Being with her, on the adventures she plans when he’s not at NASA, Yuri catches a glimpse of what it means to save the world and save a life worth living. Prepare to laugh, cry, cringe, and have your mind burst open with questions of the universe.

right so what are your feelings on math/science = yay or nay? and do you like books that star characters from countries that aren’t your own?? have you read this one?? WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS??

Song of the Current absolutely blew me out of the water with its levels of epic.

Also please pause for a moment because I just made a PUN. HA! Because it’s a book about smugglers, pirates, ships and rivers, get it? Yes you get it. You’re clever.

I’m always really keen to find delicious pirate-esque books and this one doesn’t disappoint!I mean, I need to train for my future career of course! Haha…Just, um, kidding. This book features a lot of smuggling, ships, river gods, aesthetically pleasing settings, badass female captains, personified rivers and seas, and the tiniest squish mention of a water drakon — and so many delicious fish fingers. *

It’s ABOAT time I found a FERRY impressive book about sailing, because OH BUOY are we in sore need of REELY good ship books in our lives. I’d LAKE to say I’m in love and leave it at that….buuuuut SCHOONER or later I’ll need to actually get on and write a sensible review.

Let’s carry on before I kill us with puns. ARMADA here. **

* I’m lying. Fish fingers are NOT delicious. All fish is gross and should not be eaten. ** A little contrived? All of it? YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT WAS. BOOM.

One of my favourite things has to be the world building!

Which is a big deal for me because usually I find world building hopelessly lacking in YA fantasy. But the aesthetics were awesome, okay?!? Most of the book is set trawling through rivers, and I could just feel the murky depths and the jungles and the wherries catching the right tides as they slink up and down jungle infested rivers. I COULD SEE IT ALL. It was perfect and brilliant. #aesthetic

And to top off the world-building win,it had a unique and interesting magic system AND an intoxicatingly vicious political backstory. I didn’t even get confused or overwhelmed! Details were sparse but pointed. I was HOOKED. *

* Haha okay I promise I’ll stop.

The characters were also buckets of splendour.

I particularly loved our leading lady, Caro. She’s stubborn and feisty and loyal and brave. She’s in love with the water and her boat and when her dad gets thrown into jail for not smuggling something for the royalty? CARO DOES IT. Aka she gets a letter of the marque and becomes a privateer. Caro…my hero. She’s also biracial! And she will stab you in the eye if you insult her ship, which seems fair.

I also loved the romance!

It’s a hate-to-love fest with Caro getting entangled with an important and stuffily vain boy who needs her help. Their banter is EXCEPTIONAL. Mostly because they hate each other. I ship these two onboard their little ship as the most aesthetic of ships. #PetitionToDrownCaitIfSheSaysSHIPOneMoreTime Markos is forever my favourite. He dresses nicely, he has no idea what anything does on a ship (#relatable), and he fiercely loves his family (who aren’t so great but what can you do) and he is badass when he’s finished being vain. Basically: the most insufferable and beautiful boy.

I can’t but help appreciating someone who wears a nice coat before charging into a fight.

The plot was engaging the whole time!

Although all the sea/ship explanations lost me. However it did make the book feel REEL. * I mean, oh look there’s a piece of rope and the ship has a bow and stuff goes boom. But you can also tell the author really knows her ships! And I loved that there was plenty of sailing, sneaking, gunshots, and everyone skulking around like pirates. Which they kind of were, so #nice. Also plenty of FIGHTS and moments of direness.

* Haha you thought I was going to stop punning. HA @ you.

I did guess all the plot twists. So either I read too much or they were a little predictable.

It didn’t really grab me emotionally? But then I am also a Vulcan.

But I just felt SAFE the whole time and I would’ve like to have me timbers shook.

This is definitely a book I thoroughly shout at you to read!

It is a murky stories of rivers and pirates, smugglers and guns, sea gods and monsters. It was beautifully and engagingly writtenwith characters I fell totally in love with! I WANT MORE. I love love looooved the ending.

I adored how much it empowered women and just gave us the badass female sea captains we’ve all been longing for.

I am in oar.

THANK YOU TO BLOOMSBURY FOR THE REVIEW-COPY. Song of the Current by Sarah Tolscer is published July, 2017.

★★★★☆

Caroline Oresteia is destined for the river. For generations, her family has been called by the river god, who has guided their wherries on countless voyages throughout the Riverlands. At seventeen, Caro has spent years listening to the water, ready to meet her fate. But the river god hasn’t spoken her name yet—and if he hasn’t by now, there’s a chance he never will. Caro decides to take her future into her own hands when her father is arrested for refusing to transport a mysterious crate. By agreeing to deliver it in exchange for his release, Caro finds herself caught in a web of politics and lies, with dangerous pirates after the cargo—an arrogant courier with a secret—and without the river god to help her. With so much at stake, Caro must choose between the life she always wanted and the one she never could have imagined for herself.

do you like books with pirates and/or sea settings?! (please i need more recommendations!) are you going to read Song Of The Current?!? and finally…do you like seafood?

Letters To The Lost was a pocketful of heartbreak and heartwarming surprises.

I really loved the author’s other book Thicker Than Water, but I didn’t expect to fall sooooo wholly in love with Letters To the Lost!!PEOPLES, THIS BOOK IS PHENOMENAL.It’s sad and it’s sweet and the characters are so dimensional and complex and real. Except the book was also rudely inconvenient because I didn’t want to put it down and BOOM, there went my weekend in a heartbeat. * The pages just flew past, with me feeling all the things which seems like a health hazard to my emotions.

Yet regrets = I have none.

* DO I LOOK SORRY? I AM SO NOT SORRY ABOUT THIS AT ALL. THIS BOOK CAN STEAL MY TIME WHENEVER IT PLEASES.

IT FEATURES LETTERS.Which I adore because I’m a writing person myself. I think it’s easier to communicate through writing so, #relatable. HOWEVER, the book isn’t told in epistolary format!! There’s just a letter before each chapter.

IT FOCUSES ON FRIENDSHIP. Particularly anonymous friendships. Juliet and Declan knew they went to the same school and were the same age but THAT WAS IT. And I feel like that’s how it is with internet friends a bit?!? I LOVED THAT. They learned the deep and vulnerable things about each other and they weren’t hindered by pre-conceived prejudice or judgement. It was so simple and pure and sweet. Until obviously it gets ALL MESSY and aghhhh. My bleeding heart.

ALSO THEY HAVE EPIC BFFS. Hellooooo my favourite thing. Declan and Juliet are both rather self-destructive littel orbs, but they have the best and most epic friends who are 500% there for them. Declan’s best friend, Rev, comes from an abused home and is now adopted but he has a bucket load of PTSD…and he’s also the sweetest kindest boy who ever existed and I just about started SHOUTING WITH JOY FROM THE ROOFTOPS when I found out he’s getting his own spin off book in 2018!!!! And Juliet has a lovely friend called Rowan who doesn’t let her have panic attacks alone and will forcibly pull her out of depressive episodes with delicious food and hugs. #WomenPowerGoals The emphasis on good, healthy friendships makes the book so so perfect.

IT’S ALSO VERY MUCH ABOUT GRIEF. And losing family members…so it’s the opposite of a light fluffy book. I did find Juliet’s attitude through her grief to be super irritating. She’s very self-righteous and judgemental. Declan is aggressive and puts on all the “bad delinquent boy” vibes with his criminal record and his terrible attitude at school. But inside they’re both breaking with grief, blame, and anxiety. I can’t even express how well it was written and how I loved them both in the end. They’re intensely flawed characters, and they grow so so much throughout the book.

I ALSO LOVE HOW IT DIDN’T FEATURE ROMANCE. It skips the cliche where they fall in love without knowing each other (THANK GOODNESS) and it focues on (A) healing, and (B) friendship, and (C) letting go. The book is about dealing with grief and it doesn’t cheapen that with making romance cure everything. Buuut they are absolutely crushing on each other and I SHIP IT.

ALSO THE MESSAGES WERE SO IMPORTANT?!? It talks about judging and not to assume you know people. You never eeeeever do. This part was just so on point I can’t even express how much I loved it. #IMPRESSED Juliet is unnecessarily cruel to Declan at school (she doesn’t know he’s her anonymous writing buddy) but she later gets called out. Just because someone is “known” to be a delinquent, does it make it right for you to bully them??? Do people just see what they want when it comes to the “losers”??? Do you even give people a chance once you’ve made up your mind about them? You never never never know the whole story so DON’T treat people like you do.

CHARACTERS WERE, OBVIOUSLY, A+. I loved my sad broken fragile child of Declan whose home life sucks and he feels he doesn’t even deserve to be loved. His sister is dead. Dad in prison. Declan blames himself. Also he’s epic with fixing cars and engines and I actually learnt stuff about cars while reading this! For instance, they have an engine. And I love how Juliet does photography and her relationship with her amazing dad and how she challenges herself to keep going. <3

AND THE WRITING IS JUST EXQUISITE. Did I mention I was glued to the page?!??? Everything was just so real and complex, and even the secondary characters were immensely dimensional. I wanted ANSWERS but I didn’t want it to end because I loved Declan and Juliet so much. The pacing was perfection, the emotion was brilliantly portrayed, and just UGH THIS BOOK IS PERFECT. I CAN’T.

Basically I’m just going to gush my liver out here proclaiming how good this book is.

It totally took me by surprise because I’m not usually a contemporary fan, but I adore it. Heartfelt and tragic and bittersweet and also hopeful.

Just go read it, fiends.

THANK YOU TO BLOOMSBURY FOR THE REVIEW-COPY. Letters To The Lost by Brigid Kemmerer was published April, 2017.

★★★★★

Juliet Young has always written letters to her mother, a world-traveling photojournalist. Even after her mother’s death, she leaves letters at her grave. It’s the only way Juliet can cope. Declan Murphy isn’t the sort of guy you want to cross. In the midst of his court-ordered community service at the local cemetery, he’s trying to escape the demons of his past. When Declan reads a haunting letter left beside a grave, he can’t resist writing back. Soon, he’s opening up to a perfect stranger, and their connection is immediate. But neither of them knows that they’re not actually strangers. When real life at school interferes with their secret life of letters, Juliet and Declan discover truths that might tear them apart. This emotional, compulsively-readable romance will sweep everyone off their feet.

have you read this one?!?? TELL ME ALL YOUR FEELS IF YOU HAVE. do you like books about anonymous friendships?? do you think it’s easier or harder to get to know someone without meeting them?

This might come as a shock, but dragons are actually my favourite.

It’s probably something to do with my Slytherin soul, my tendency to hoard shiny things, and my predisposition to eat annoying people. So if you say “this book has dragons in it”, I’ll be reading it. IMMEDIATELY.

I thought it’d be fun to do a mini review collection of just dragonish books I’ve read recently. And there’s been a nice unusual amount published this year! So, thank you 2017, for providing us with dragons. There has been a dragon-drought.

Thank you to Bloomsbury AUS and Netgalley for the review copies!

And also I bought one because #DragonAddiction.

THE DRAGON WITH THE CHOCOLATE HEART

This book is actually the CUTEST thing. I mean it’s about (a) dragons and (b) chocolate — aka my two favourite things. Obviously I was going to love it. It was cute and sassy, and reminded me of Ramona Quimby…with dragons. Plus chocolate. DID I MENTION THE ENTIRE BOOK IS CENTRED AROUND CHOCOLATE. It’s a middle grade, so not my usual fare, but I still loved it!

(This book is basically what would happen if Willy Wonka and I co-wrote a novel.)

OTHER THINGS TO LOVE:

Aventurine was a very winning protagonist! I mean, she loses her ability to be a dragon because she gets sucked into a trap via chocolate. That would be me.

Her passion is CHOCOLATE.

It’s set in a chocolate shop!!

You will die of hunger reading this.

Aventurine is also like a naive little feral dragon human-child who considers biting people when they annoy her. #Relatable

Aventurine has an epic friend who is like a 12-year-old bourgeoning business woman. Will work for chocolate.

I will work for chocolate, tbh.

It maybe lagged a little in the middle, but overall it left me with a warm happy fuzzy feeling.And also very near starvation. Basically toss that vegetable sandwich you’re eating right now, get some chocolate, and eat this book.

HEARTSTONE

I have a bit of love/hate for this one.Because, like DRAGONS. They did them so well! There’s dragon riders who slay evil dark monsters of the forests and the dragons talk and are kind of vain. #lovely But the story was soooo slooooooow and the protagonist, Aliza had about as much personality as a bucket.

It’s basically a Pride and Prejudice retelling + dragons. Genius, yes?! Although I haven’t actually read P&P because I’d rather throw myself into the void, but I do love the Lizzie Bennet Diaries youtube vlogs! So I think I followed the gist of the original tale alright?? It was an entertaining and creative retelling. And I LOVED how there were women dragon riders/warriors. However Aliza…yeah…no. You know that song “there’s a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza, there’s a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, todayyyyyy”. Heard of it? Please? I hope so? MOVING FORWARD: Aliza is the bucket and her personality fell out through the hole. She’s so passive it was boring. However she WASN’T waiting for a man to make her life interesting — so applause. And she was a woman of colour, so yay for diversity!

The romance was so dumb it was hilarious. Actual transcript of how it went down:

Daired: Okay don’t look at her.Daired: Don’t speak to her except to pass the potatoes.Daired: Let her paint your dragon tho.Daired: BUT DON’T MAKE EYE CONTACT!!Daired: Erm, hello Aliza! So will you marry me? I’ve been in love with you for months.Aliza: what even???? no?????

I mean, I laughed. I’m not sure I should have. But they had ZERO CHEMISTRY OR FRIENDSHIP BEFORE HE PROPOSED AND I JUST??? It did get better though. And Daired was kind of adorably awkward.

OTHER THINGS TO NOTE:

monster slaying!!!!

dragon fights!!

people nearly die all over the the place

the middle is so boring I actually nearly died

Aliza is a potato

Even if there’s dragons, I realise I still fail to be fully engaged by period dramas.

THE FALL OF THE DRAGON PRINCE

This was such a puddle of disappointment. I picked up solely for the dragonish title, but it was SO STINKIN’ SEXIST it spoiled the entire book. Also there was next-to-no world building which made the whole book so SO confusing. Basically so many cliches. Think of the most generic fantasy story ever (oh a king’s wife has a baby in secret!! and she dies!! and the son will fulfil a prophecy!! but only if he’s hidden his whole life!!!) and boom. We gotcha. Also this king has 5 children by 5 wives and has hidden them in 5 different places FOR NO REAL REASON except probably because he was thinking, “LOL @ YOU WORLD! THIS IS AN EPIC GAME OF HIDE ‘N’ SEEK!”

It’s also been shelved as YA but it’s adult. Terith is about 26 but as mature as a 10 year old boy. So.

OTHER REASONS I AM DISGRUNTLED:

super long and wordy

ergo boring for me

one of the types of dragons are “fruit dragons” and which made me think of the actual thing called dragon fruit so are they riding a fruit salad???

everyone is either SUPER BAD or SUPER GOOD because I apparently know nothing as a reader

love triangle where I’m supposed to believe Terith loves two girls and equally

yet I DO NOT BELIEVE SO

the entire PREMISE is a dragon race and the winner gets to pick any women he wants to marry…

THE DRAGON’S PRICE

This one is about killing dragons and kissing. Which is a huge no from me. It’s also slowly dying from many fantasy cliches and a serious dose of problematic racism that kind of had me blinking in shock that I’ve not heard this book called out across the book blogging community. Like, at all???

We have a problem.

BRIEF LIST OF HORRORS:

Sorrowlyn is called “headstrong, fiery, and rebellious” by all…except all she does is cry and wait for a boy to save her.

Her #1 asset is her virginity. Can we…not.

Pretty white Sorrowlyn is being forced to marry someone in the horse lord tribes and they’re described as dark skinned and “savage/barbaric”…not to mention using food to describe their skin tone. And this line is ACTUALLY IN THE BOOK: “barbarian warrior or not, that he is the kindest man I have ever met.”

Well no no no no.

Dragon slaying = no.

Instalove romance.

Princess Sorrowlyn needs (a) rescuing, (b) can become a magical great warrior with no training, (c) is “ugly” because she has “brown hair”, (d) is a super Special Snowflake Magical Virgin™, (e) is super racist, and yet (d) tons of people love her for no reason at all.

The plot is just walking.

Look at me over there just napping.

The fantasy world is SO SEXIST. Because we can have dragons, but God forbid a lady kiss a man first. No no, corsets and submission.

#NOPE

do you like dragons?!? (the correct answer is “YES” btw) and can you recommend me any excellent dragon books?! (I’ve read Seraphina and Game of Thrones already!) have you read any of these?? TELL ME YOUR THOUGHTS!!